Accident from a Want of Sash Weights. 219

elapse before the luxury of sash weights and lines may preclude the recurrence of a similar disaster, it is but charitable to put one's friends on their guard against such accidents.

Possibly you may think yourself in lefthanded luck; for had the mishap befallen the fingers of my right hand, you would, probably, for some days at least, have been reprieved from my prolixity. Adieu.

J. C. C.

LETTER XVIII.

Londonderry, Aug. 26, 1813.

OUR distance hither was thirteen miles: the vale through which we passed is extensive, and flat towards the coast. Lough Foyle, and its cultivated shores, add much to the interest of the drive, many parts of which are strikingly beautiful. The village of Ballykelly is very neat; and the church, which has recently been rebuilt, is a handsome edifice. On the margin of Lough Foyle is Wentworth House, the seat of the Hon. J. Beresford: it is surrounded by extensive woods, and appears to be a sumptuous residence.

The farming buildings are more abundant here than we had previously seen the size of the farms in general exceeds one hundred acres. About forty shillings an acre is the rent now paid; though in the year 1774, Mr. A. Young states it at about one-third of that sum. On each farm are settled a number of cottiers, to whom small portions of the land are sub-set by

Power of incurring Debts, disadvantageous. 221

the tenant, the rent of which is defrayed by their labor on his farm.

The poor cottier is thus obliged to pay exorbitantly for his potatoe-ground and the site of his cabin; but these are not all the disadvan tages he is compelled to suffer.

The few necessaries he requires are supplied by his employer: the best prices are demanded and paid for the worst commodities; and though he may have well-grounded apprehensions of being over-charged, he has no power of controlling or checking his account, which is sel dom adjusted more than once a-year. Should he even be fairly dealt with, suspicion and dissatisfaction are the natural consequences of such a running account, the balance of which is never known till the day of reckoning. Much is forgotten, and hope misleads the judgment as to the result. Credit is ever fallacious; and when applied to the immediate wants of life, increases the too common disregard to care and economy: nothing is so injurious to the lower orders as the neglect of prompt payment, and the power to incur debts.

There appear to be many new cottages rearing from the ground, and large tracts reclaim

222

Much Wheat exported.

ing from the bog-certain indications of an increasing population.

This part of the country formerly imported grain within the last two years a considerable quantity of wheat has been exported; though the husbandry cannot yet by any means be esteemed good or profitable. Potatoes and a little oat-cake being the staple food of the people, most of the wheat produced is destined for the support of distant individuals. Within a few years the growth of wheat has greatly increased in the north of Ireland: in general large districts are now under the cultivation of it, which heretofore were considered wholly unfit for its production.

The oats which may be required for home consumption will bear no proportion to the quantity of wheat that will be exported.

By the side of a neat cottage, about two miles from Derry, we saw an acre or two of Swedish and common turnips: in the present existing state of agriculture here, such a sight was highly gratifying.

Derry was founded by Sir Henry Dockwray, in the beginning of the seventeenth century,

Fortifying Derry and Coleraine.

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In the rebellion of 1606, it was surprised; and Sir George Powlett, the governor, was murdered with his whole garrison. Three years afterwards, King James the First granted to the companies of the city of London land to the amount of two hundred and ten thousand acres, on condition of their fortifying Derry and Coleraine; from which circumstance the former takes its present name of Londonderry. The view of it from the opposite side of the Foyle is very grand, covering as it does the steep bank rising from this noble expanse of water. The cathedral, occupying the summit of the hill, is a commanding object; and few towns I have ever seen can boast a more beautiful situation.

The bridge of wood over the river is one thousand and eighty feet in length, and is said to have cost in its construction upwards of eleven thousand pounds. The banks of the Foyle are very bold, both above and below the town, and are ornamented by many handsome residences.

Ships of six hundred tons burden, on spring tides, can load or unload their cargoes at the quays. The appearance which the houses make, with the regularity of the streets (though the acclivity renders the access to the upper town somewhat inconvenient), and their clean